Exhaust pipe attachment



y 1962 RE. LEE 3,035,505

EXHAUST PIPE ATTACHMENT Filed April 12, 1960 a 2o /4\ 22 [0 Fly.

Robert E Lee 1N VEN TOR.

F' 7 BY IZA eon Wm; 15%

United States Patent 3,035,505 EXHAUST PIPE ATTACHMENT Robert E. Lee,Rte. 1, Larimore, N. Dak. Filed Apr. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 21,776 3 Claims.(Cl. 98-60) The present invention relates to internal combustion engineexhaust pipes, generally speaking, such as are currently and commonlyused on tractors, farm combines and out-of-doors engines wherein, as isgenerally the case, vertical or substantially vertical pipes areinvolved.

More particularly, it has reference to such structural adaptations inthis field of endeavor where provision is made to guard against thelikelihood of extraneous matter, rain, snow and ice getting into theengine byway of an uncovered exhaust conduit.

Inventions in the field of endeavor under consideration, while construedin the broad sense that they are exhaust pipes, also pertain, in amanner of speaking, to mufilers and perhaps, exhaust manifolds. Themeans currently associated with the discharge end of the exhaust pipe iscustomarily an attachment of one form or another. In fact, a survey inthe art would bring to light protectortype attachments sometimesreferred to as closure attachments, guards, shields and so on. Inasmuchas drivers and operators of tractors cannot always be relied upon tovoluntarily take precautionary measures it has been repeatedly observedthat they either neglect or forget to cover the upper end of theupstanding exhaust pipe despite the fact that it is quite frequentlyonly necessary to use an inverted tin can, a piece of canvas or somemakeshift means which is usually carried for such purposes. In anyevent, and for these and other reasons, many and varied styles and formsof upright exhaust pipe guards have been patented and offered for useand also to discourage using make-shift contrivances.

An object in the instant matter is to structurally, functionally andotherwise improve upon prior art attachments and adaptations byemploying a structurally unique device which is characterized by meansto be capped over the upper end of the exhaust pipe and which inaddition embodies a complemental cup-like trap with suitable drainagemeans at the bottom to overcome accumulation of undesirable foreignmaterial which, if it entered the engine by way of the exhaust pipe,would damage the same and greatly interfere with ready starting andreliable operation,

Two embodiments or forms of the invention are contemplated. One is asimple attachment characterized by an elbow with one end of the elbowattachable to the upper end of the exhaust pipe and the other end of theelbow carrying the trapping and draining cup.

The other form of the invention, instead of using an elbow, has to dowith an elongated attaching branch or section, and a complementalparallel cup-like section with the two sections joined by walls and thusproviding a construction which may be properly construed as an exhaustpipe with an offset rain trapping and disposal muffler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a fragmentary portion of afarming tractor or equivalent vehicle with an upright exhaust pipe andillustrating the elbow-type cap constituting one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on a larger scale with but a minimal portionof the tractor disclosed;

FIG. 3 is a section on the vertical line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation showing an exhaust pipe and theaforementioned offset muflier construction which is constructed as anentity and which is applied similarly to a readily applicable andremovable attachment;

FIG. 5 is a section on the horizontal line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of the elbow typecap disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the reference character A designates the tractor orother equivalent vehicle, machine or engine under consideration which isequipped with an upright exhaust pipe B commonly uncovered and thereforesubject to giving tractor users and others considerable trouble, thatis, unless habitual care in covering the discharge of the exhaust pipeis constantly observed. In the cap-type attachment (see in FIGS. 1 to 3)the attachment comprises two components; namely, an elbow 8, which isthe cap, and a trapping and drainage cup 10. These components areintegrated in the manner shown and are preferably made from sections ofpipe or tubing. The elbow has a lower end portion 12 which is attachabletelescopically and removably to the exhaust pipe B. The intermediatebent portion or bend 14 offsets the end portion 16 which is attached tothe wall 18 of the cup 20 by way of the opening 22. The connection ispreferably made between the open upper end 2% and the substantialyclosed bottom 23. At the bottom a suitable orifice 24 in the side wallprovides a satisfactory drain hole.

This ofiset cap construction is a simple, practical and economicalaccessory. It will be made in different sizes and perhaps slightlyvaried in shape and of appropriate materials to adapt it to serviceableand reliable use. When in position, as shown, in case it should rain orsnow, the moisture will be trapped in the cup and gradually drained offand thus disposed of. The cup also serves to trap other foreignmaterial, which if allowed to get into the engine, would be dangerousand damaging.

With respect now to the modification (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), this particularattachment is referred to as an offset muffier construction. The vehicleis denoted by the reference character A and the exhaust pipe at B. Theofiset mufller is designated generally by the numeral 26 and it is ofsheet metal or the like and has two complemental sections which mightperhaps be treated as companion branches 28 and 30. Actually, thesection 28 is a tube or length of pipe which has its upper end suitablyclosed at 31 and this section is capped over the exhaust pipe as shown.The other section 30 is an elongated cup which is open at the top as at32. At the bottom (FIG. 6) it is provided with a notch or discharge hole34 cooperable with a port 36 in a cap-like cover 38 which is mountedrotatably and provides a drainage valve. In other words, this closure 38may be opened and closed at will. The median portions of the respectivepipe or tube components 28 and 30 are joined by a communicating chamberwhich is denoted at 40 in FIG, 5. This chamber embodies a pair of spacedparallel side walls 42 and top and bottom walls 44 and 46 which,considered together, provide a junctional box-like compartment orchamber with the opposed portions thereof communicating with the tubecomponents 28 by way of openings or notches 48 and 49, as seen in FIG.5.

Generally, it is believed that in both embodiments of the invention aguard-like cap, which may be said to be closed to the atmosphere, isprovided and is telescopically and removably applied in the manner shownand described. This cap, in turn, has communicating connection in bothinstances withan open-top-trap or cup, said cup being provided withdrainage means at the bottom.

It is also to be pointed out that both the offset exhaust cap and offsetmuffler construction will be preferably built to conform with suchoversize dimensions as the manufacturer decides on. In fact, preliminaryexperience tends to show that unless oversize proportions are resortedto undesirable back pressure may interfere with free discharge of gasesunder pressure.

It may be added that actual experimental use of an ofiset mufliler likethat herein disclosed tends to show that the invention will prove out tobe highly satisfactory from the standpoint of efiiciency, durability andover-all helpful performance.

With reference now to FIG. 7, the slight modification has to do with theaforementioned elbow 8A here having a lower end portion 12A, anintermediate portion 14A, and an upper end portion 16A communicativelyjoined with centrally apertured portion 22A on the trapping and drainagecup A. The cup has a drainage hole 24A at the bottom and the upperportion 29A is open to trap rain, snow and the like. Actually, the onlydifference here is the fact that the cup 10A instead of being at rightangles to the branch 16A i at an inclined or an oblique angle. structionprovides a more efiicient trap.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes Willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

It is submitted that this pitched or slanted con What is claimed as newis as follows:

1. An attachment for an open upper end of an internal combustion engineexhaust pipe, said attachment comprising a pair of fixedly connected,parallel vertical tubes of similar dimensions and having communicationwith each other, one end portion of each of said tubes extendinglongitudinally beyond the corresponding end of the other of said tubes,and closure caps on the inner ends of the tubes, the lowermost caphaving a drain port therein, the outer ends of said tubes being open andat least one of said outer ends being telescopically engageable on theupper end of an upstanding exhaust pipe for removably mounting theattachment thereon in communication therewith, said tubes being spacedfrom each other and having opposed openings in intermediate portionsthereof, and a connecting chamber for the tubes extending therebetweenand communicating with the openings.

2. An exhaust pipe attachment in accordance with claim 1, saidconnecting chamber being vertically elongated and including flat,opposed side walls and flat, opposed top and bottom walls.

3. An exhaust pipe attachment in accordance with claim 2, saidconnecting chamber being spaced from said inner and outer ends of saidtubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS424,212 Keane Mar. 25, 1890 1,166,005 Robinett et al Dec. 28, 19151,485,754 Albini Mar. 4, 1924 2,468,961 Curphy May 3, 1949 2,630,748Brockelsy Mar. 10, 1953 2,887,032 Wachter May 19, 1959

